Combined drum washer and drying arrangement

Abstract

An improved combination washer-dryer comprised of an inner and outer container which are spaced apart so as to form a condensation chamber therebetween. A cooling medium and moist air withdrawn from the inner drying container are simultaneously forced through that chamber which cools the air and causes moisture contained therein to be condensed and thus separatable from the air. Additional condensation and water separators can be employed to further treat the circulating air prior to that air being reheated and returned to the inner drying container.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for both washing and drying laundry comprising: outer container means for enclosing the washing and drying compartment; inner container means forming the washing and drying chamber and for holding the laundry being treated, said inner container being rotatably mounted within and spaced from said outer container means; air circulation means for forming an air circulation path within said device and for circulating air through that circulation path such that air is provided to and withdrawn from said inner container; heating means adjacent the air circulation path for heating air being circulated in the air circulation means, said heating means positioned so as to heat air prior to the circulation of such air into said inner container means; cooling means for cooling air within said air circulation means, said cooling means positioned to cool air as the air is withdrawn from said inner container means; said cooling means including a first condensation means located in the space defined between said inner and outer container means, cooling medium supply means for supplying a cooling medium to said first condensation means; drain means for draining away the cooling medium and the condensation said drain means including the inlet to said air circulation means; said air circulation means including means for directing air withdrawn from said inner container means through said first condensation means and thereafter out of said outer container through said drain means and into the inlet of said air circulation means. 
     
     
       2. A combination washer-dryer device as in claim 1 wherein said first condensing means includes: inlet pipes attached to opposite sides of said outer container means at least midway between the top and bottom of said outer container means and control means for controlling the flow of a cooling medium through said inlet pipes so as to form a substantially continuous film on the interior surface of said outer container means; and wherein said air circulation means further includes a plurality of perforations within said inner container means and at least one outlet in said outer container means so that air withdrawn from said inner container means through said perforations will pass to said at least one outlet and thereby pass through said first condensation means and in contact with the cooling medium therein. 
     
     
       3. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 2 wherein said air circulation means further includes blower means for circulating air through said air circulation means, inlet means for directing circulating air into said inner container means, first air conduit means extending between said blower means and said inlet means, and second air conduit means extending between said at least one outlet and said blower means. 
     
     
       4. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 3 wherein said at least one outlet is positioned within said drain means. 
     
     
       5. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 1 further including a second heating means adjacent the air circulation path for heating circulating air to a higher temperature, said second heating means being positioned downstream from the other said heating means. 
     
     
       6. A device for both washing and drying laundry comprising: outer container means for enclosing the washing and drying compartment said outer container means including a loading opening; inner container means forming the washing and drying chamber and for holding the laudry being treated said inner container means including perforated sidewalls, said inner container being rotatably mounted within and spaced from said outer container means; air circulation means for forming an air circulation path within said device and for circulating air through that circulation path such that air is provided to and withdrawn from said inner container; heating means adjacent the air circulation path for heating air being circulated in the air circulation means, said heating means positioned so as to heat air prior to the circulation of such air into said inner container means; cooling means for cooling air within said air circulation means, said cooling means positioned to cool air as the air is withdrawn from said inner container means; said cooling means including a first condensation means located in the space defined between said inner and outer container means, cooling medium supply means for supplying a cooling medium to said first condensation means; said air circulation means including means for directing air withdrawn from said inner container means through said first condensation means; and drain means for draining away the cooling medium and the condensation and for providing the exit for air from said outer container means, wherein said air circulation means further includes inlet means for directing heated circulating air into said inner container means, said inlet means comprising an elongated nozzle positioned adjacent said loading opening, said elongated nozzle including means defining a plurality of spaced apart apertures extending along the length of said elongated nozzle through which the circulating air is forced, said nozzle being positioned so that air emerging from said apertures is directed towards the interior of said inner container means so that said air circulation means withdraws air through the perforated sidewalls of said inner container means, through said cooling means and said first condensation means and out of said outer container means through said drain means. 
     
     
       7. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 6 wherein said apertures are circular openings. 
     
     
       8. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 6 wherein said apertures are slots. 
     
     
       9. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 6 wherein said apertures are positioned on said elongated nozzle so that the direction of flow of air emerging therefrom is inclined slightly downward toward the upper surface of laundry within said inner container means. 
     
     
       10. A combination washer-dryer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said inlet means comprises an elongated nozzle, said elongated nozzle including means defining a plurality of apertures extending along the length of said elongated nozzle so as to form air passing through said elongated nozzle and said apertures into a fan-like pattern within said inner container means. 
     
     
       11. A combination washer-dryer as claimed in claim 6 wherein said inlet means comprises a nozzle provided with a plurality of outlets therein and having an outlet cross section running across a circular sector. 
     
     
       12. A device as in claim 6 wherein said drain means comprises a first conduit connected to and extending away from the bottom of said outer container means defining a drain path for the cooling medium and the condensation, a second conduit positioned internally within said first conduit for forming the inlet end of said air circulation means. 
     
     
       13. A device for both washing and drying laundry comprising: outer container means for enclosing the washing and drying compartment; inner container means forming the washing and drying chamber and for holding the laundry being treated, said inner container being rotatably mounted within and spaced from said outer container means; air circulation means for forming an air circulation path within said device and for circulating air through that circulation path such that air is provided to and withdrawn from said inner container; heating means adjacent the air circulation path for heating air being circulated in the air circulation means, said heating means positioned so as to heat air prior to the circulation of such air into said inner container means; cooling means for cooling air within said air circulation means, said cooling means positioned to cool air as the air is withdrawn from said inner container means; said cooling means including a first condensation means located in the space defined between said inner and outer container means, cooling medium supply means for supplying a cooling medium to said first condensation means, said air circulation means including means for directing air withdrawn from said inner container means through said first condensation means; and drain means for draining away the cooling medium and the condensation wherein said first condensing means includes inlet pipes attached to opposite sides of said outer container means at least midway between the top and bottom of said outer container means and control means for controlling the flow of a cooling medium through said inlet pipes so as to form a substantially continuous film on the interior surface of said outer container means; and wherein said air circulation means further includes a plurality of perforations within said inner container means and at least one outlet in said outer container means so that air withdrawn from said inner container means through said perforations will pass to said at least one outlet and thereby pass through said first condensation means and in contact with the cooling medium therein; said air circulation means further including blower means for circulating air through said air circulation means, inlet means for directing circulating air into said inner container means, first air conduit means extending between said blower means and said inlet means, and second air conduit means extending between said at least one outlet and said blower means wherein said at least one outlet is positioned within said drain means and wherein said blower means is positioned above the maximum desired liquid level within said outer container means, said second air conduit means including valve means positioned between said outlet and said blower means at the maximum desired liquid level within said outer container means for allowing excess liquid within said outer container means to overflow therefrom, thereby maintaining the desired liquid level therein, said valve means being automatically closeable when said blower means is circulating air within said air circulation means. 
     
     
       14. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 13 wherein that portion of said second conduit forming said at least one outlet has been widened in the shape of a funnel. 
     
     
       15. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 13 wherein said air circulation means includes blower means for withdrawing air from and returning air to said inner container means. 
     
     
       16. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 15 wherein said heater means is positioned downstream from said blower means so as to heat air emitted from said blower means. 
     
     
       17. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 15 wherein said cooling means includes second condensation means positioned in the air circulation path within said device and between said first condensation means and said blower means whereby the air withdrawn from said inner container means is also drawn through said second condensation means and cooled an additional amount thereby removing more moisture through additional condensation. 
     
     
       18. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 17 wherein said second condensation means is comprised of an inner housing connected to said air circulation means so that air withdrawn from said first condensation means passes therethrough, an outer housing coaxially aligned with at least a portion of said inner housing means for connecting said outer housing to said cooling medium supply means and said drain means so that cooling medium will flow therethrough and water separation means for collecting and discharging water condensed out of the air flowing through said second condensation means. 
     
     
       19. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 18 wherein said water separation means comprises a collection cup which forms the bottom of said outer housing said collection cup extending beneath at least a portion of said inner housing such that the air will initially flow between the inner and outer housing and thereafter in a labyrinth-fashion between said collecting cup and said inner housing. 
     
     
       20. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 18 wherein said water separation means comprises centrifugal disc means connected to at least a part of said outer housing so that the cooling medium flows therethrough for separating condensed water from the air and means for rotating said centrifugal disc means. 
     
     
       21. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 20 wherein said centrifugal disc means comprises a funnel shaped expanding jacket having an upper portion rotatably attached to said outer housing and a bottom portion, a disc member positioned beneath and spaced from the bottom portion of said jacket and attached to said rotating means, said disc member having an upturned outer edge portion extending in part around the bottom poriton of said jacket, said upturned portion of said disc member forming a collecting groove for collecting water condensed out of the air circulating through said second condensation means and cooling medium escaping from the space between said jacket and said disc member, said collecting groove having a plurality of apertures provided therearound so that as said disc member rotates condensed water and the cooling medium are forced outwardly through said plurality of apertures toward said outer housing and drain means attached to said outer housing for receiving and draining away the material discharged through said plurality of apertures in said collecting groove. 
     
     
       22. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 21 wherein the material is discharged from said plurality of apertures in said collecting groove in the form of jets and where said jets strike said outer housing at an obtuse angle directed toward said drain means. 
     
     
       23. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 17 wherein said second condensation means comprises an inner housing, means for circulating a cooling medium through said inner housing, an outer housing positioned at least in part around said inner housing said outer housing forming part of the air circulation means so that the air flow is directed by said outer housing around said inner housing, means for collecting and discharging water condesnsed out of the air flowing through said second condensation means said collecting means being attached to said outer housing. 
     
     
       24. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 17 wherein said air circulation means further includes heat exchanger means positioned between said second condensation means and said blower means for preheating air exiting said second condensation with the air exiting said first condensation means. 
     
     
       25. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 24 wherein said heat exchanger includes inside and outside tube members, said tube members being coaxially aligned, said inside tube being rigid and said outside tube comprising a flexible hose fitted over said rigid inside tube member. 
     
     
       26. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 13 wherein at least that portion of said air circulation means containing heated air is provided with an insulating covering. 
     
     
       27. A device for both washing and drying laundry comprising: outer container means for enclosing the washing and drying compartment; inner container means forming the washing and drying chamber and for holding the laundry being treated, said inner container being rotatably mounted within and spaced from said outer container means; air circulation means for forming an air circulation path within said device and for circulating air through that circulation path such that air is provided to and withdrawn from said inner container; heating means adjacent the air circulation path for heating air being circulated in the air circulation means, said heating means positioned so as to heat air prior to the circulation of such air within said air circulation means, said cooling means positioned to cool air as the air is withdrawn from said inner container means; said cooling means including a first condensation means located in the space defined between said inner and outer container means, cooling medium supply means for supplying a cooling medium to said first condensation means; said air circulation means including means for directing air withdrawn from said inner container means through said first condensation means, and drain means for draining away the cooling medium and the condensation wherein said first condensing means includes inlet pipes attached to opposite sides of said outer container means at least midway between the top and bottom of said outer container means and control means for controlling the flow of a cooling medium and through said inlet pipes so as to form a substantially continuous film on the interior surface of said outer container means, and wherein said air circulation means further includes a plurality of perforations within said inner container means and at least one outlet in said outer container means so that air withdrawn from said inner container means through said perforations will pass to said at least one outlet and thereby pass through said first condensation means and in contact with the cooling medium therein, said air circulation means further including blower means for circulating air through said air circulation means, inlet means for directing circulating air into said inner container means, first air conduit means extending between said blower means and said inlet means, and second air conduit means extending between said at least one outlet and said blower means wherein said at least one outlet is positioned within said drain means and wherein that portion of said second conduit forming said at least one outlet is curved upwardly within said drain means toward said inner container means, and is provided with a mouth widened in the shape of a funnel, said widened mouth extending above the level established by the bottom of said outer container means. 
     
     
       28. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 27 wherein the lowest portion of that portion of said second air conduit positioned within said drain means includes means defining a drain opening for allowing any liquid within said second air conduit to drain therefrom into said drain means. 
     
     
       29. A device for both washing and drying laundry comprising: outer container means for enclosing the washing and drying compartment; inner container means forming the washing and drying chamber and for holding the laundry being treated, said inner container being rotatably mounted within and spaced from said outer container means; air circulation means for forming an air circulation path within said device and for circulating air through that circulation path such that air is provided to and withdrawn from said inner container; heating means adjacent the air circulation path for heating air being circulated in the air circulation means, said heating means positioned so as to heat air prior to the circulation of such air into said inner container means; cooling means for cooling air within said air circulation means, said cooling means positioned to cool air as the air is withdrawn from said inner container means; said cooling means including a first condensation means located in the space defined between said inner and outer container means, cooling medium supply means for supplying a cooling medium to said first condensation means; said air circulation means including means for directing air withdrawn from said inner container means through said first condensation means; and drain means for draining away the cooling medium and the condensation wherein a portion of a top of said outer container means comprises a pressed-out pocket, said heating means being positioned within said pressed-out pocket whereby the interior surface of said pressed-out pocket serves as a radiation plate and wherein the exterior surface of said pressed-out pocket forms part of said air circulation means downstream from said blower means so that air passing thereover is heated. 
     
     
       30. A combination washer-dryer as in claim 29 wherein that portion of said air circulation means formed around said pressed-out pocket is in the form of a flat channel.